From:
http://www.michiganprosecutor.org/alger/Articles/Gun Laws.doc.
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Restorations pursuant to Michigan law are misleading, however, because they do not satisfy federal law.
Federal law prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms unless they've had their convictions set aside OR had their civil rights fully restored, AND are not subject to any state firearms restrictions.
And, Michigan law as of October 1, 2003 disqualifies convicted felons from jury service, meaning that this civil right is no longer restored post-sentence, as is the case with the rights to vote and hold public office, and as of July 1, 2001 makes convicted felons permanently ineligible to receive a concealed pistol permit, meaning that they are subject to a state firearm restriction regardless of whether they even apply for a concealed pistol permit; a recent Attorney General opinion concluded that persons who have had their convictions set aside are eligible for concealed pistol permits, however, restorations are insufficient for that purpose because they do not erase the conviction.
This leaves us with the following situation:
if you have a prior felony conviction and have had your right to possess firearms restored under Michigan law, your possession of firearms will still be a violation of federal law both because you haven't had your civil rights fully restored and you remain subject to a state firearm restriction.
It should be noted that federal prosecutions would have to be predicated on a connection to interstate commerce, however, it is difficult to imagine a firearm without the required nexus to interstate commence resulting from its manufacture and/or subsequent history – such proofs pertain to the firearm and not the possessor.
So, the bottom line is that while either the setting aside of your felony conviction or the restoration of your right to possess firearms will bring you into compliance with Michigan law, only a set aside will enable you to possess firearms under federal law. Still unresolved is the status of persons who were eligible for or in fact received a restoration prior to the recent changes in Michigan law.